What Is a Level 2 Background Check? How Far Back, Disqualifying Offenses

A portrait of Background Check Records founder, Jayson Baxter. Written by Jayson Baxter

Background Checks | August 16, 2023

A woman in the center of the image is holding a magnifying glass and looking at a computer screen to her left with the levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 displayed; while she questions what Level 2 background checks entail, a man in business attire stands behind her with a clipboard.

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It’s common for employers and licensing agencies to require a level 2 background check, but to most a level 2 background check is a foreign term.

In any case, applicants of all sorts can gain admission to their dream school or begin their desired career by understanding what a level 2 screening is, how far back they go, and the disqualifying offenses that could affect their future.

What Do the Levels 1, 2, and 3 Mean On a Background Check?

Before learning more about the intricacies behind a level 2 background check, it can be beneficial for people to know the basics of the following background checks: level 1, level 2, and level 3.

Level 1: This is the simplest check an individual or company can conduct. It only consists of a name covering where the subject resides (usually their home state) and their employment history.
Level 2: Unlike level 1 checks, this type covers national and state areas. It’s reserved for those who plan to work with vulnerable populations or sensitive information (more on this below).
Level 3: It covers an individual’s preferences, past employment, any criminal history, and more. This commonly-used background check may also include drug testing.¹
Level 4: Level 4 background checks consist of all of the above, in addition to various tax records, social media checks, and other things since they are usually reserved for acquisitions and c-suite employees.

What Is a Level 2 Background Check Screening?

A level 2 background check, sometimes called a tier 2 check or fingerprint background check, is one that complies with FBI rules and regulations. It’s typically used for prospective healthcare workers, but it’s also required for people applying for government jobs, finance jobs, and guns.²

However, level 2 or fingerprint background checks can be used for a wide range of position employments, volunteer roles, adoption, foster care applicants and more.

The FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) defines a level 2 check as one that’s mandatory for those employed in jobs associated with trust or responsibility; and while level 2 background checks are used across the nation, Florida is the only US state that uses the term “level 2” to define a national background check while other states refer to it as a fingerprint background check.

In essence, it’s a fingerprint background check that screens applicants for disqualifying offenses through FBI Databases.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement website that has defined what a level 2 background screening means through Florida Statutes Chapter 435.04.

Per Florida Statutes Chapter 435.04, both potential and current employees are required to go through background checks offered by the FBI, local law enforcement networks, and the FDLE.

As mentioned earlier, this kind of check is particularly required for nurses, certified nursing assistants, and anyone else working in the healthcare industry. For Florida residents who need to apply for or retain their license, they have to go through the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). They need to visit the Licensure Form page, select their specialty, and print out and complete the appropriate papers. They can also submit their applications online.

For background screenings, users currently holding licenses need to register or log in through the AHCA’s Background Check Screening Unit.

In other states, the Department of Health or similar agency will provide instructions on their submission process but it’s typically the same process where applicants fill out a form, get their fingerprints done (typically at a LiveScan location), and once they receive the background check report from the FBI, they forward it to the health agency or the FBI will send it directly to the appropriate entity.

What Does a Level 2 Screening Reveal & What Criminal Information Shows Up?

A level 2 criminal background check reveals lots of information related to an individual’s criminal history and other aspects of their past. For one, this check can turn up any misdemeanors or felonies the subject committed.

Plus, most states even show pending charges. Nonetheless, how they’re handled varies from state to state. For example in Michigan, a person’s pending felonies show up. But Kansas forbids the reporting of someone’s pending charges.

If someone’s worried about any arrests or warrants showing up in their background check, they shouldn’t fret just yet. Any arrests over seven years old that didn’t end in a guilty verdict may or may not show up on their background report.

As a matter of fact, some employers aren’t allowed to ask about a person’s arrest records so that the subject has a fair chance at a job opportunity. Also, unexecuted warrants don’t show up on records. Job candidates may even be required to go through a drug screen depending on their prospective employer.³

Is it Possible to Pass a Level 2 Check for Employment With a Felony on Your Record?

Many people who were found guilty of felonies in the past are understandably concerned about being barred from a job opportunity or continuing to practice a certain profession. There’s some truth in that because teaching, psychology, and real estate are some of several professions that are either restricted or closed to felons.

However, this doesn’t mean there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Depending on state/federal regulations, personal circumstances, and the severity of said felonies, someone can get them expunged. Also, unless an individual’s felony record is relevant to their desired profession, the EEOC’s (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from preventing candidates from applying for a job.

Am I Required By Law to Disclose a Felony After 7 Years?

If it’s been seven to ten years since a person’s felony conviction, applicants are not required by law to disclose or bring it up but individuals should always check their state laws, which can be found in the following links, to determine if it’s seven or ten years.

As previously mentioned, an individual can expunge their felony record if they’re worried about it affecting their job prospects. Nevertheless, they have to check the expungement laws of each state before doing so.⁴

Disqualifying Offenses of Level 2 Background Screenings

There are several level 2 background screening disqualifications that’ll prevent someone from working in education, healthcare, and other professions if they happen to possess them.

Note, any of the following offenses automatically disqualify them even if they’re awaiting the final disposition of an arrest or trial:

Murder
Sexual misconduct
Luring/Enticing a Child
Burglary
Assault
Kidnapping
Elder abuse
Battery
Possessing a weapon on school property
Lewd behavior

In addition to these offenses and other felonies, background checks include tax records and tax fraud could be a disqualifying offense for those applying or working at a financial institution in addition to some federal positions.

How Many Years Back Do Level 2 Background Checks Go (Nationwide & Florida)?

A level 2 background check (or federal background check) typically goes back seven years. However, some states like California and Massachusetts go as far back as a decade.⁵
Level 2 checks in Florida have a similar time length of around seven to 10 years.⁶

Pre-Employment Background Check Laws for Florida & Beyond

Level 2 screenings are most common for employment and thus, understanding various laws within a state or jurisdiction. It’s crucial to ensure there’s no discrimination and that the potential employer followed the correct policies and procedures.

Florida Background Check Laws

When hiring someone in Florida, there are a few laws prospective employers have to abide by. For instance, when running a background check on an applicant, public employers can’t turn them away due to minor offenses.

In addition, those who were found guilty of felony drug offenses aren’t allowed to work for government agencies per Florida Statutes Chapter 775.16. (They can remove this qualification by finishing their sentences as well as completing any required drug treatment programs.)

A screenshot of Florida Statutes 775.16 which says those who have serious drug charges or disqualified from being employed by the state unless certain stipulations are met

Though Florida isn’t a ban-the-box state, some of its cities and counties have similar laws such as Lakeland and Orange County.⁷

Residents who committed certain felonies in their youth are in for some good news. On July 1, 2022, legislators passed a new expungement law in Florida: HB 195. This law mandates that the FDLE erase the felony arrest records of minors as long as they enter and complete a first-offender program. An expunged record gives them a fresh start.

Ban-the-Box Laws (Nationwide or State-by-State)

A ban-the-box law–aka the Fair Chance Act–mandates that public employers refrain from asking job candidates about any charges or convictions prior to hiring them. However, this law applies mostly to government employers. (This law applies to private employers in certain states.)

Also, only 35 states, the District of Columbia, and several cities and counties have a ban-the-box law since there’s currently no federal version of it. Below is a table showing the state, cities/jurisdiction, and regulations regarding individual ban-the-box laws.

State	Cities & Jurisdictions	Ban-the-Box Regulation
Arizona	Whole State	State agencies with 15 or more employees Employers can’t ask about criminal records during the application process. Can only inquire about criminal records that are seven years old or older
California	Whole State Compton Los Angeles Richmond San Francisco	Whole State: Both government and private agencies Compton: City contractors Background checks can only be carried out after a conditional employment offer. Los Angeles: Companies with 10 or more employees Richmond: Private agencies with 10 or more employees San Francisco: Companies with 5+ employees
Colorado	Whole State	Government and private agencies with 11+ employees Employers are forbidden from advertising that people possessing criminal records aren’t allowed to apply for certain jobs.
Connecticut	Whole State Hartford New Haven	Whole State: Both government and private agencies Questions about criminal history are prohibited from first applications with few exceptions. Hartford and New Haven: City contractors Background checks can only be carried out after a conditional employment offer.
Delaware	Whole State	All state agencies Employers can’t ask about an applicant’s criminal history until they extend a job offer.
DC	N/A	Both government and private agencies with 10+ employees Background checks can only be carried out after a conditional employment offer.
Georgia	Whole State Atlanta	Whole State: All state agencies Employers can ask about an applicant’s criminal history during an interview but not on an application. Atlanta: All state agencies Employers can ask candidates about their criminal history after a second interview.
Hawaii	Whole State	All private companies Employers can’t ask about an applicant’s criminal history until they extend a job offer.
Illinois	Whole State Chicago Cook County	Whole State: Private agencies with 15+ employees Employers aren’t allowed to ask about an applicant’s criminal history unless it’s before an interview or after a conditional employment offer. Chicago and Cook County: Private agencies with <15 employees. State regulations about an applicant’s criminal history apply to Chicago and Cook County, too.
Indiana	Executive Branch Indianapolis	Executive Branch positions and city contractors First applications shouldn’t contain questions about criminal records. (Employers can inquire about criminal histories if it’s an offense that could disqualify a candidate from a specific position.) Employers can’t ask about an applicant’s criminal history until they complete their initial interview. Then, employers can run a background check.
Kansas	Office of the Governor	Office of the Governor positions including commissions, executive branch departments, boards, and agencies First applications can’t ask questions about criminal histories. Furthermore, a candidate’s criminal record may not automatically bar them from a position.
Kentucky	Executive Branch Louisville	Executive Branch positions and city contractors Employers can’t ask a candidate about their criminal record until they extend an interview offer. If a contractor doesn’t have a ban-the-box mandate, the city may refuse to do business with them.
Louisiana	Whole State New Orleans	Whole State: Government agencies Employers aren’t allowed to ask about an applicant’s criminal history unless it’s after an interview or a conditional employment offer. New Orleans: City contractors Contractors aren’t allowed to ask questions about a candidate’s job history on first applications.
Maine	Whole State	All state agencies Applications can’t contain questions about criminal histories.
Maryland	Whole State Baltimore Montgomery County Prince George’s County	Whole State: Government agencies Employers can’t ask about a candidate’s criminal history until after an interview offer. Baltimore: Government and private agencies with 10+ employees Background checks and questions about someone’s criminal history aren’t allowed until after a conditional employment offer. Montgomery County: County agencies with 15+ employees Employers can’t ask questions related to an applicant’s criminal record until the first interview is completed. Prince George’s County: County agencies with 25+ employees Employers can’t ask questions related to an applicant’s criminal record until the first interview is completed.
Massachusetts	Whole State Boston Cambridge Worcester	Whole State: All private agencies First applications can’t contain questions about a candidate’s criminal history. Furthermore, questions about certain kinds of crimes shouldn’t be brought up during the hiring process. Boston, Cambridge, and Worcester: Contractors who do business in these cities also have to abide by the state’s ban-the-box laws.
Michigan	Whole State Detroit Kalamazoo	Whole State: All government agencies First applications can only contain questions about a candidate’s moral character. Employers can only ask criminal history questions after an interview or a conditional employment offer. Detroit: Contractors who provide city services for $25,000+ Contractors can’t ask applicants questions about their criminal history until after the interview. Kalamazoo: Contractors who provide city services for $25,000+ or are pursuing tax abatement Contractors are required to prove that they don’t discriminate against applicants based on their criminal records.
Minnesota	Whole State	All private agencies First applications can’t contain questions about someone’s criminal history with few exceptions.
Missouri	Executive Branch Columbia Kansas City	Executive Branch positions Job applications can’t contain questions about criminal histories. Columbia: Agencies within city limits Employers can’t ask questions about an applicant’s criminal record until after a conditional employment offer. Kansas City: Agencies with 6+ employees Employers can’t ask applicants questions about their criminal history until after the interview.
Nebraska	Whole State	All government agencies A candidate has to meet minimum employment requirements before employers ask about their criminal histories.
Nevada	Whole State	All government agencies Employers can’t ask questions about a candidate’s criminal record until after a final interview, a conditional employment offer, or after an administrator certifies them.
New Jersey	Whole State	Both government and private agencies with 15+ employees Employers can ask about criminal records as a last step of the hiring process.
New Mexico	Whole State	All private agencies Employers can converse with a candidate about their criminal history after examining their application.
New York	Whole State Buffalo New York City Rochester Syracuse	Whole State: Government and licensing agencies Employers can only ask about an applicant’s record after the first interview is completed. Buffalo: Private companies with 15+ employees and city contractors First applications can’t contain questions about someone’s criminal history. New York City: Both government and private agencies with 4+ employees Employers can’t ask questions about an applicant’s criminal record until after a conditional employment offer. Rochester: Both government and private agencies with 4+ employees and city contractors Employers can only ask criminal history questions after an interview or a conditional employment offer. Syracuse: City contractors Once a conditional job offer is made, contractors can carry out background checks and ask about someone’s criminal history.
North Dakota	Whole State	All government agencies save school districts Employers can’t ask about criminal records until an applicant is scheduled for an interview.
Ohio	Whole State	All government agencies Employers can’t ask questions about an applicant’s criminal record until after a conditional employment offer.
Oklahoma	Whole State	All state agencies Employers can’t ask about criminal histories unless the candidate possesses a disqualifying felony.
Oregon	Whole State Portland	Whole State: All private companies It’s illegal for employers to deny a candidate an interview due to possessing a criminal history. Portland: All government and private agencies with 6+ employees Employers can’t ask questions about an applicant’s criminal record until after a conditional employment offer.
Pennsylvania	Whole State Philadelphia Pittsburgh	Whole State: Government agencies associated with non-civil services Applications can’t contain questions about criminal histories. Philadelphia: Both government and private agencies with 1+ employees Employers can’t carry out background checks until after they make a conditional employment offer. Pittsburgh: City vendors and contractors Contractors and vendors can’t ask about criminal records until the final stage of the hiring process.
Rhode Island	Whole State	All government and private agencies with 4+ employees First applications shouldn’t contain questions about criminal records.
Tennessee	Whole State	All government agencies Job applications can’t contain questions about criminal histories.
Texas	Austin	All government and private agencies with 15+ employees Once a conditional job offer is made, contractors can carry out background checks and ask about someone’s criminal history.
Utah	Whole State	All government agencies Employers can only ask about criminal records during or after an interview.
Vermont	Whole State	All private agencies First applications can’t contain questions about someone’s criminal history.
Virginia	Executive Branch	Executive Branch positions Employers can ask about criminal records as a last step of the hiring process.
Washington	Whole State Seattle Spokane	Whole State: All private agencies Employers can’t ask about charges or convictions unless a candidate appears qualified for a certain position. Seattle: All government and private agencies with 1+ employees Applicants can only be denied a position if an employer has a legitimate business-related reason for doing so. Spokane: All private agencies Employers can’t ask questions about criminal records prior to an interview.
Wisconsin	Whole State Madison	Whole State: All government agencies After a candidate’s certified for a position, then an employer can ask them questions about any criminal records. Madison: Contractors who provide city services for $25,000+ Once a conditional job offer is made, contractors can carry out background checks and ask about someone’s criminal history ⁸, ⁹ .

Whether someone’s planning to adopt, renew a license, or apply for a job, they need to know what to expect when pursuing their goals. That way, they’ll be very prepared on the day when they have to go through a level 2 background check.

References

¹How many levels of background checks are there? How many levels of background checks are there? (2020, May 7). Peopletrail. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://peopletrail.com/levels-of-background-checks/>

²What is a Level 2 Background Check? [All You Need to Know]. (n.d.). Techjury. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://techjury.net/blog/what-is-a-level-2-background-check/>

³Pencheva, D. (2022, April 6). What Is a Level 2 Background Check? WebTribunal. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://webtribunal.net/blog/level-2-background-check/>

⁴What’s A Level 2 Background Check In Florida? (2021, October 14). Global Background Screening. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://www.globalbackgroundscreening.com/post/what-s-a-level-2-background-check-in-florida>

⁵what type of information is in a federal background check? (n.d.). Nstec.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://www.nstec.com/technology/what-type-of-information-is-in-a-federal-background-check/>

⁶Question: How Far Back Does Florida Background Check Go. (n.d.). Worldanything. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://worldanything.com/how-far-back-does-florida-background-check-go/>

⁷Rodgers, M. J. (2022, July 4). A Complete Guide to Florida Background Checks [2022]. iprospectcheck. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://iprospectcheck.com/florida-background-check/>

⁸List Of States And Municipalities With Ban The Box Laws. (n.d.). AccuSource. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://accusource-online.com/list-of-states-and-municipalities-with-ban-the-box-laws/>

⁹Ban the Box States 2022. (2019, September 1). World Population Review. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from <https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/ban-the-box-states>